THE council's flagship publication, About York, is to be abolished in a review of the way the council communicates with local residents.

The executive last night agreed the review of City of York Council's marketing and communications activities on the recommendation of the strategic policy panel.

The decision had been "called-in" by the Labour Group who claimed a review was "premature" and unnecessary in the light of the implementation of £68,000 of recommendations from a Best Value review in August 2002.

The new review will report back to the executive with detailed options later this year. It will advise on alternative forms of communication to About York, probably through the existing ward newsletters.

Marketing and communications was a key area earmarked for cutbacks by the Liberal Democrats when they pledged to cut back on "spin".

Updated: 10:39 Saturday, August 02, 2003